The Night Beat — Jazz Trombonists, featuring Wycliffe Gordon

On Week three of Doug’s exploration of jazz trombonists, we’ll hear music performed by Wycliffe Gordon.

Born in Georgia in 1967, he grew up surrounded by music as his father was a church organist, pianist, and music teacher.  Wycliffe’s interest in jazz began around 1980 while listening to jazz records inherited from a great-aunt including a collection of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives and Hot Sevens.

He was part of the Wynton Marsalis Septet from 1989 to 1995 and was an original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Millions of National Public Radio listeners hear Wycliffe’s music every day in 1995 he arranged the theme for the network’s afternoon news magazine All Things Considered which is still in use today.

Besides his own record dates for Criss Cross Jazz and other labels, he’s appeared on recordings by Rene Marie, Dianne Reeves, Anat Cohen, Ricky Skaggs, Joe Henderson, Randy Sandke, and many more.

Best known as a trombonist, Wycliffe also plays tuba, trumpet, soprano trombone, and didgeridoo and is an occasional (and quite distinctive) vocalist.

Wycliffe has been awarded Trombonist of the Year honors by many publications including the Jazz Journalists Association, DownBeat, and Jazz Times.

He has presented master classes and clinics around the world served as Artist-in-Residence at many colleges and universities and is currently the head of Jazz Studies at Augusta University, GA.

Be sure to tune in Wednesday, April 20, beginning at 8 pm for some great jazz from Wycliffe Gordon, one of the most entertaining and original trombonists working today on The Night Beat with your host Doug Crane only on KUVO.

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